title: Sporotrichosis in cats: ABCD guidelines on prevention and management.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Sporotrichosis is an important subcutaneous fungal infection of humans and animals in some endemic tropical and subtropical areas. Among domestic species, cats are the most frequently infected.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  The primary mode of transmission is traumatic inoculation of fungal conidia from plants and soil. Contact with infected cats is the major mode of transmission to humans, especially in endemic areas like Brazil, where a large epidemic has occurred in the past decade.
  
  
  METHODS
  Most cases in cats are cutaneous, presenting as multiple ulcerated nodules and draining tracts in the skin. Lymphadenopathy, respiratory signs and systemic dissemination may also occur.
  
  
  METHODS
  Diagnosis is based on fungal detection by cytology and/or histology, and confirmation by culture.
  
  
  METHODS
  Treatment consists of at least 2 months' systemic antifungal therapy, with itraconazole as the first-choice agent. The prognosis is favourable provided there is good owner compliance and adverse drug effects do not occur.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Contact with infected cats carries a high zoonotic risk. Cat owners travelling to endemic areas should be warned and advised to keep their cats indoors to prevent infection. Professionals must wear gloves when handling cats with skin nodules and ulcers and dealing with diagnostic samples.
authors.affiliation: European Advisory Board on Cat Diseases. Albert.LLoret@uab.cat
authors.forename: Albert
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lloret
authors.forename: Katrin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hartmann
authors.forename: Maria Grazia
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Pennisi
authors.forename: Lluis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ferrer
authors.forename: Diane
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Addie
authors.forename: Sándor
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Belák
authors.forename: Corine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Boucraut-Baralon
authors.forename: Herman
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Egberink
authors.forename: Tadeusz
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Frymus
authors.forename: Tim
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Gruffydd-Jones
authors.forename: Margaret J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Hosie
authors.forename: Hans
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lutz
authors.forename: Fulvio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Marsilio
authors.forename: Karin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Möstl
authors.forename: Alan D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Radford
authors.forename: Etienne
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Thiry
authors.forename: Uwe
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Truyen
authors.forename: Marian C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Horzinek
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D002415:Cats; D013174:Sporotrichosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents